Filing case



Patented May 11, 1943 John J. Seelman, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Seelman Laboratories, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Application August 28, 1942, Serial No. 456,461

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in filing cases.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide .a novel and improved file particularly adapted to receive periodicals .or pamphlets of uniform size, such, for example, as medical publications .or the advance sheets of legal reports, and tohold such pamphlets or periodicals as a book for temporary or permanent bookcase .usage.

More particularly stated, it is proposed to employ a conventional book binder and to incorporate on the inside left hand cover of the binder inconspicuous or transparent means for the filing of pamphlets or periodicals in an arrangement in which individual pamphlets or periodicals may readily be withdrawn for study and readily replaced.

Other objects include the specific location of all of the mechanical retaining features of the device upon the back and the left hand cover with few or none of such mechanical features on the right hand cover, this arrangement being highly advantageous in maintaining the use and appearance of the device like a book; the provision of various forms of retaining devices for holding the pamphlet or periodical contents of the file against downward or forward dislodgment when the file is held as a book; the making of some or all of the mechanical retaining means of transparent material and providing reenforcement where necessary, the objective being in all cases to make such reenforcing material inconspicuous and practically invisible when itis so located as to be within the field of view; the provision of means whereby the mechanical confining and retainingportions of the apparatus are so organized as to leave unimpeded the free swinging movement of the right hand cover of the file; and the provision of pamphlet or periodical retaining means which is preferably skeletonized, both for lightness and for the sake of appearances, in order to promote the appearance of the device as a conventional book.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel and improved filing case of the character described in which a special latch member serves to connect the margin of the hinged cover to the skeletonized pamphlet retaining means in such a manner as not only to hold the cover releasably in its closed position, but also to provide simplemental support for the skeletonized pamphlet retaining means to keep such means from sagging below the cover. If it were to sag with respect to the covers it might scratch a varnished surface.

With respect to the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is a further object to provide a skeletonized pamphlet or periodical retaining bracket which is of peculiar form to provide support as needed while using a minimum amount of material and enabling the insertion and removal of pamphlets with maximum facility. I

A further object is generally to simplify and improve the construction, arrangement and operation for one or more of the purposes mentioned, and still other objects will be apparent from the specification.

This application is a continuation in part of my former application, Serial No. 371,245, filed December 23, 1940.

In thedrawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a filled file embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a View in'perspective showing an unfilled file embodying the invention, with the free right hand cover open to expose the painphlet receiving space.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective showing a modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a view in perspective showing an unfilled file of preferred construction embodying the invention, with the free right hand cover open to expose the pamphlet receiving and retaining means.

Figure 5 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 4, illustrating the cover in its closed position.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

Figure 1 shows a view of a typical device embodying the invention as it appears when filled. It is made to resemble a book so closely as hardly to be distinguishable therefrom. It includes a back '1, a left hand cover 8, and a right hand cover 9, the covers being identified with respect to the position in which they appear when the device is viewed from the back as in Figure 1. The various pamphlets or periodicals l0 confined between the covers 8 and 9 have all the appearance of the contents of an ordinary book, and there is little or nothing visible in the file to disclose its true character.

Even if the file is picked up-and moved about, its character will not readily be apparent unless it be opened. The U-shaped strap ll has a reversely turned portion l5 riveted or otherwise secured to the front margin iii of the left hand cover 8, as shown in Figure 2, thus rigidly connecting the strap to the left hand cover. The strap may also be rigidly connected, if desired, to

Some means is necessary for the support of such periodicals or pamphlets from below. It is not necessary, however, nor desirable, from the standpoint of the present invention, that a full bottom be provided. It is preferred that the bottom be skeletonized, as, for example, by the provision of another strap at I! connected to the strap l l at some point intermediate its. length,

and thence extended downwardly and inwardly toward the bottom of the left hand cover where it is provided with a flange at H! riveted to the cover 8, thereby adequately supporting the pamphlets against falling through the strap I I. The

inturned flanges of the skeletonized strap structure which retains the pamphlets in the file may be covered, if desired, by paper flaps such as that shown at l3, such flaps being desirably present in any event to provide instructions for use of the file.

While the back 1 and the cover 8 are preferably rigidly united by the strap, the right hand cover 9 is hinged to the back I at l9 and swings freely between open and closed positions, thus giving ready access to the pamphlets when it is desired to insert or remove a pamphlet.

The construction shown in Figure 3 employs the same left hand cover 8 and back 1 shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, but the front or right hand cover is divided into sections 90 and 9| substantially midway of the height of the file. A corner plate 250 is provided with a flange whereby it may be secured not only to the cover 8 and the back I, but also may be secured rigidly to the stationary lower section 9| of the right hand cover.

The front margin 92 of the cover section 9: is likewise held rigid by a vertical channel member 39, riveted both to the cover 8 and to the stationary right hand cover section 9|. Its flange 40 projects somewhat beyond the upper edge of cover 9| to provide an abutment against which cover section 99 seats when closed. The same channel element 39 may be shouldered at 42 to receive the friction catch element 43 with which the swinging cover section 90 is provided.

While the right hand cover is thus divided into two sections in the apparatus shown in Figure 3, the general appearance of the device on a book shelf is practically identical to that shown in Figure l, the divided cover not being visible when the file stands with other similar files or with books upon a shelf. The top and back do not disclose the file construction.

The construction shown in Figures 4 and is preferred for most purposes. While generally similar to the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2, it contains important features of improvement.

In the first place, I have shown in Figure 4 an angle plate 24 applied near the top margin of the back I of the file, where it is positioned to engage the folded .or bound margins of pamphlets or periodicals inserted in the file to keep the pamphlets or periodicals from pitching forwardly out of the file when the file is tilted, as in handling. The retaining flange provided by the angle plate 24 thus secures the contents of the file against accidental loss without materially interfering in any way with insertion or removal of such contents. This device may be used in any of the various constructions herein disclosed.

A further feature of the device shown in Fi ures 4 and 5 is the arrangement whereby the retaining strap I I0 is, in a sense, reversed as to its position, as compared with the strap II of Figure 2. Strap H0 is preferably in direct contact with the inner face of the cover 8 and has an upturned portion 25 secured to the back I of the file,-whereby the back I and cover 8 are mainmargin l6 of cover 8, the strap is extended outwardly at right angles to the cover at 26, the portion 26 of the strap being in general parallelism with the portion 25 thereof. The length of the portion 26 of the strap is approximately equal to the width of the back 1. Thence the strap extends inwardly toward the back at 28 just sufficiently to retain the contents of the file but terminating far short of contact with the back I, In actual practice the length of the strap portion 28 may be approximately half, or slightly greater than half, of the distance, between the strap portion 26 and the file back I.

The portions 26 and 28 of the strap would be entirely free and unsupported but for the pro: vision of a bracket strap I10 having a portion 2'! projecting substantially in a horizontal plane at right angles from the central portion of cover 8 at a point near its lower margin. This nor: mally horizontal strap element 2'! provides a bottom for the skeletonized file pocket in which the pamphlets or periodicals are inserted in the file. The strap portion I10 which connects strap portion 21 with strap portion 28 is preferably inclined toward the outside of the file in order that the riveted connection at 29 between the parts may be eflected close to the outer end of strap portion 26, thereby enhancing the strength of the skeletonized pocket.

The joint between the strap elements I10 and 28 may conveniently be covered with a sheet metal member 30 having an angularly extending tongue 3| in face contact with strap portion 26. Such tongue has an embossed area at 32 and is provided with clasp engaging fingers 33. The free margin of the hinged cover 9 carries a, clasp member 35, which. when the cover is closed, as shown in Figure 5, is received between and within the retaining fingers 33, and is frictionally engaged with the embossed area 32. The frictional engagement .With the embossed area tends to hold the cover 9 in its closed position. while the fingers 33 positively preclude any possibility of relative vertical movement between the cover 9 and the strap members which constitute the skeletonized file pocket.

As a result, the strap members are prevented from sagging under weight of the contents of the file below the lower margin of the cover 9 But for the positive connection shown, the relatively light strap members might, under some circumstances, be caused by the weight of the contents to sag downwardly and perhaps to scratch a desk surface upon which the file migh be located.

The retention of the clasp member 35 being purely frictional, the claspis readily released by simply pulling the cover 9 toward its openiposition. The tapered end of the clasp member 35 facilitates its intrqductionbetween the fingers 33 to 'r-eeng-age the parts in the position shownin Figure 5.

It has already been indicated that it is characteristic of the devices herein disclosed that the mechanical structure relied upon for supporting and confining the pamphlet contents of the file is always mounted by preference entirely onthat cover which lies at the left of the structure as viewed from the back, or on that cover and the back. Thereby the left hand cover and the back may be rigidly united so that the device actually Only' contents might be dislodged in whole or in part;

upon the opening of the right hand cover in the manner normal to the use of the device as a book.

-' While the device gives the'appearance of a book and may conveniently and desirably be used with books upon a book shelf, it nevertheless has an advantage in the filing of such pamph- 1 lets as legal or medical works, in that the individual pamphlets are'not locked in place but may readily be moved individually for independ ent study, thus relieving the user from carrying the weight of the entire file when study of only one pamphlet i desired.

" vltiis contemplated that the back of the improved file will be provided with an ornamental legend upon which the user may himself lendorse in any suitable manner the nature of the contents of the file.

" Iclaim:

.r'l; A device of the character describedco-mprising in combination a back, a left hand cover connected at its rear margin to the back and having a" free margin remote from the back, a righthand cover at least part of which i hinged at, its rear margin to the back, and means for retaining pamphlets and the like between said covers, said means comprising a member spaced in predetermined parallelism to the left hand cover, an arm connecting said member with the free margin of the lefthand cover approximately'midway of the height thereof and positively fixing the spacing of said member from said left hand cover, and anotherarm havinga portion extending downwardly from said member parallel to said left hand cover at a spacing corresponding substantially to the spacing of said member therefrom, said last mentioned arm having a portion substantially normal to said left hand cover connecting the parallel arm portion to the lower margin of the left hand cover at a point intermediate the back and the free mar.- gin of said cover. 2. A device of the character described comprising a back, a left hand cover having one margin connected with the back and having a free margin remote therefrom, in combination with work retaining means comprising an arm extending outwardly from the free margin of said left hand cover to a distance approximately equalling the width of the back and in substantially rigid connection with said left hand cover, a work retaining member extending'fmom the end of said and toward .said back in rigid connection with said arm and insubstantially fixedparallelism with the left hand cover, and a second arm having a portion extending downwardly from said member and a second portion extendinginwardly from the first portion to the lower margin of the left hand cover. substantially at right angles thereto, and a right hand cover having at least a'portion hinged to said back.

3. A device of the character described, com:- prising a back, left andright hand covers con?- nected to the back, the right hand cover com prising at least a portion in hinged connection with the back and means for retaining work in fixed relation to the left hand cover during the opening and closing of said right hand cover portion and including a member in rigid connection with the back, a member rigidly connecting said first member with the bottom'marg in of the left hand cover, and'amemberrigidly connecting said first memberwith the front margin of the left hand cover at a point substantially midway'of the height of the left hand cover, said members being .so positioned with respect to the left hand cover as to be adapted to cooperate with said back to retain in approximate registry with the left hand cover pamphlets and the like substantially corresponding in size to the left hand cover, while rendering said pamphlets freely accessible for removal and replacement when said right hand cover portion is open'respecting the back.

4. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a back, a left hand cover con nected at its rear margin to the back and having a free margin remote from the back, a right hand cover at least part of which is hinged at its rear margin to the back, and means for re 'taining pamphlets and the like between said covers, said means comprising a member in spaced parallelism to the left hand cover and extending outwardly from said back but spaced therefrom, an arm connecting said member with the free margin of the left hand cover intermediate the height thereof and positively fixing the position and spacing of said member from theleft hand cover, and another arm having a portion extending downwardly from said member approximately parallel to said left hand cover at a spacing corresponding substantially to the spacing of said member therefrom, said last mentioned arm having a portion substantially normal to a left hand cover and connecting the parallel arm portion tot-he lower margin of the left hand cover at a point intermediate the back and the free margin oflsaid free left hand cover.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the arm portion which extends downwardly from said member parallel to the left hand cover is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the back. being connected to said member adjacent the first mentioned arm which connects said member with the free margin of the left hand :cover and being connected to the bottom margin of the left hand cover at a point approximately midway of the length of such margin.

'6. A device of the character described, comprising in combination a back, left and right hand covers connected with the back, at least one such cover having its connection with the back providing for pivotal cover movement respecting the back, a clasp member projecting from the free margin of the pivotally movable cover, a skeletonized basket mounted between said covers, and clasp engaging means carried by said basket and with which the clasp at the free margin of the pivoted cover is engageable when such cover is closed, said clasp engaging means comprising at least one clasp engaging finger disposed above said clasp whereby said clasp and cover provide support in the closed position of the cover for the skeletonized basket.

7. In a file for pamphlets and the like, the combination with a back, of a left hand cover having one margin connected with the back, and a right hand cover in pivotal connection with the back for swinging movement of its free margin to and from a closed position in which the pivoted right hand cover is approximately parallel to the left hand cover, a clasp carried by said free margin, and a skeletonized work carrier comprising relatively light strappmembers connected with the left hand cover and disposed'between said covers to be exposed by the pivotal movement of the right hand cover from said position, said work carrier comprising at least one clasp engaging finger with which said clasp is interlockingly engageable in the aforesaid position of the right hand cover, the direction of interlocking engagement being such that the right hand cover and clasp provides support for said carrier.

8. A file for pamphlets and the like, said file comprising a back having relatively fixed and movable covers, carrier strap means connected with the fixed cover and. projecting therefrom, a clasp mounted on the free margin of the move able cover, and clasp engaging means carried by the strap means at a point spaced from the fixed cover and interlockingly engageable with said clasp in the closed position of the movable cover to receive support from said movable cover when the movable cover is closed. 9. A file for pamphlets and the like, comprising a back having relatively fixed and movable covers, a strap connected with the back and the fixed cover and extending along the fixed cover from the back to a point adjacent the free margin of the fixed cover and thence extending outwardly from the fixed cover and thence backwardly toward said back and provided with an arm extending downwardly and inwardly and connecting it with the lower margin of the fixed cover, whereby to constitute a skeleton-carrier for material to be filed, the movable cover having a clasp prong and said strap being provided with a clasp receiver adjacent the point adjacent the part of the strap which projects from the fixed cover, said clasp receiver and clasp being interlockingly engageable in the closed position of the movable cover against the sagging of the strap.

10. A file for pamphlets and the like, com:- prising an upright back and relatively fixed and pivotablly movable covers connected therewith, the pivotally movable cover having a free mar gin provided with an inwardly projecting clasp prong, a skeletonized work carrier comprising a strap projecting outwardly from the free margin of the fixed cover, and means for providing positive supplemental support for the work carrier from the movable cover when the latter is closed, said means including a clasp prong receiver con nected with said strap and comprising vertically spaced opposing fingers between which said prong is interlockingly engageable against relative vertical movement, said receiver also comprising means for the frictional retention of said prong in such engagement.

11. A file for pamphlets and the like comprising a back and relatively fixed and pivotally movable covers connected therewith, a flanged work retaining member extending transversely of the inner face of said back adjacent its top, a skeletonized work carrier comprising a strap connected with the back and the fixed cover and extending across the fixed cover from the back toward the free margin thereof, thence outwardly to a point spaced from the fixed cover approximating the width of the back, and thence inwardly toward the back in spaced relation to the fixed cover, a supporting arm for such strap connected with the strap adjacent the point, at which it extends inwardly toward the back, said arm extending thence obliquely downwardly and toward the back and thence inwardly and substantially normal to the fixed cover and connected therewith adjacent its' lower margin, 8. prong carried by the free margin of the movable cover at substantially the level at which said strap extends from the free margin of the fixed cover and a prong receiving clasp means carried by the strap portion projecting from the fixed cover and including upper and lower fingers between which said prong is interlockingly engageable, saidclasp means including an embossed portion with which said prong engages for its frictional retention.

12. A book-like file for loosely receiving periodicals, pamphlets and the like and adapted to stand erect upon a shelf, said file comprising the combination of a back and a pair of covers, at least a portion of one of said covers being hingedly connected with the back, a pamphlet retaining means between the covers, and means attached to the hingedly movable cover portion and interlockingly engageable with said pamphlet retaining means when said cover portion is closed, said interlockingly engageable means comprising a supporting shoulder on the movable cover portion and a supported shoulder on the pamphlet retaining means, the supported shoulder being vertically above the supporting shoulder in the erect position of the file, and said shoulders being positively engaged in the closed position of said movable cover portion for supporting the pamphlet retaining means against sagging in the erect position of the file.

13. The device set forth in claim 12 in which the pamphlet retaining means comprises a sup porting arm projecting from an'intermediate portion of the lower margin of the inner face of the cover other than that having said hingedly connected portion, a retaining arm projecting from an intermediate portion of the free side margin of the said last mentioned cover, and an elbowed extension of the retaining arm projecting from the retaining arm in the direction of the back in spaced relation to the inner face and provided with a link connecting it with the otherwise free end portion of the supporting arm, said arms and link being in positions to be enclosed between the covers.

JOHN J. SEELMAN. 

